Madison schools bond approved; Berkley millage renewals also pass

By CATHERINE KAVANAUGH

Tuesday, May 7, 2013

Preschool and elementary students will have a larger, more modern school thanks to voters in the Madison District Public Schools, who on Tuesday approved an $11.4 million bond proposal, 414-314, on Tuesday.

All P-5 students will attend the former Schoenhals Elementary School, 27107 Hales, which will get an estimated $10 million overhaul, including a new preschool wing, 12 new classrooms, a new cafeteria, an outdoor study area with a pond and computer tablets in all classes.

The remodeled and expanded school will be ready for the 450 students now at Edison and Halfman elementary schools -- plus 100 newcomers -- in January 2015.

"It's not just a building," resident Linda Zimmerman said. "The technology component is important to me. I voted to give the kids of Madison Heights a fair chance to compete."

However, Ken Hodgson cited the decreased number of resident students as one of the reasons he couldn't support the bond. He noted the district accepts children who live outside the city and test scores overall are "bad."

About 35 percent of the distrct's students live outside its boundaries, according to school officials.

Hodgson doesn't think an upgraded elementary school will help lure back young Madison Heights residents to fill those extra desks either.

"Once they go I can't see them coming back and that's hurtful. It's a sorry state," Hodgson said.

Resident Christin Cole disagrees. She said she thinks the school system is in a state of improvement compared to a few years ago. Cole said her nephew has excelled since transferring from Mott High School, Warren, to Madison Preparatory Academy.

"He got straight A's and was student of the month. It was a good move for him," said Cole said, who is among the district's 8,968 registered voters.

Resident Paul Sanders arrived at the polls at Wilkinson Middle School with questions and eventually faith in the new direction the district is heading. He asked bond supporters, including Superintendent Randy Speck, who took the day off to talk to voters, why they want to borrow money to upgrade Schoenhals.

Speck gave his "elevator pitch" on the central campus concept. Some of the bond money will be used to build a small road between Schoengals and the nearby Madison High School, 915 E.11 Mile Road. Eventually, district officials would like to move the middle school to that area, too, but that is years off in a long-term facility plan.

"When I was growing up we walked to school," Cole said. "Nowadays most parents drive their kids because it's easier for them and because of crime. I want to see this new plan come together for everyone."

Cole, the mother of an eighth grader and preschooler, also supports the central campus concept.

"My youngest will really get to benefit from the changes," she said.

Speck said voters took a big step forward on Tuesday in approving a bond that will be levied up to 30 years at an average rate of 4.87 mills.

"This is a building block for something the community can be proud of," Speck said.

A single campus will be convenient for parents chaufering children to more than one school, efficient for teachers who travel between buildings to teach foreign language and physical education, and save the district money on utility and building maintenance costs, Speck said.

Millage renewals pass in Berkley

In the Berkley School District, voters solidly backed two millage renewals with 80 percent casting yes ballots. The school system covers all of Berkley and Huntington Woods and parts of Oak Park and Royal Oak.

Voters were asked to continue levying an 18-mill, 10-year tax limited to businesses and owners of second homes. Also called a non-homestead millage, the tax yields $3.1 million annually for school operations, including books, technology and salaries.

The second millage renewal request was for the district's sinking fund, which can only be spent to maintain or upgrade facilities. The district sought a 10-year tax of 0.736 mills to raise about $635,000 a year. The fund has been used in the past to repair boilers and resurface the track at Hurley Field.